Standard Lemma guide

popliteus

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small muscle at the back of the knee that aids in bending the knee and in the rotation of the lower leg.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Late Latin, see poples.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 膕肌 /腘肌 (guójī) — area behind the knee
  • Dutch: wade — area behind the knee
  • Finnish: polvitaivelihas — area behind the knee
  • French: muscle poplité — area behind the knee
  • German: Kniekehlenmuskel — area behind the knee
  • Greek: ιγνύα (ignýa) — area behind the knee
  • Ancient Greek: κώληψ (kṓlēps) — area behind the knee
  • Ancient Greek: ἰγνύα (ignúa) — area behind the knee
  • Japanese: 膝窩筋 (shikkakin) — area behind the knee
  • Polish: mięsień podkolanowy — area behind the knee
  • Russian: подколе́нная мы́шца (podkolénnaja mýšca) — area behind the knee
  • Swedish: popliteus — area behind the knee